Paolo Buffa

Joining Irvine’s skyline and offering an elevated gathering place, Marriott Irvine Spectrum is pleased to announce the appointment of Paolo Buffa as executive sous chef for the 271-room hotel set to debut late December.

Hailing from Italy, Executive Sous Chef Paolo Buffa brings over 25 years of culinary experience to the Marriott Irvine Spectrum, where he will be showcasing inventive California cuisine through a Mediterranean lens.

Buffa studied at the Culinary Art Institute of Milan and further honed his skill of Italian, French and Belgian cuisine while in Austria. His US foray was Caffe Milano, the Italian hotspot on Miami Beach’s Ocean Drive, and later, he held multi-faceted positions at The Ritz Carlton, Battery Park and the Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC.

Buffa is not new to the Marriott family, having led banquet functions and operations at the hotel group’s Southern California locations. Off duty, he spends time with his son Leonardo, and pursues outdoor adventure, photography and the California varietals featured on his wine list. He is fluent in Italian, Spanish and English.